Mail-bag catcher and deliverer.



2-. WATERBHRY. MAIL BAG OATOHEB AND DELIVEBER. APPLIOATIDH FILED JUNE 23 1908 Patentd Nov. 3, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Elnuentoz witnesses E. WATERBURY. MAIL BAG GATCHER AND DELIVERER. APPLICATION FILED Jun 2a, 1908.

903,035. Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

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WW 4M M EDWIN WATERBURY, OF MAMARONECK, NEW YORK.

MAIL-BAG CATCIIEB AND DELIVERER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Application filed June 23, 1908. Serial No. 440,008.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN \VATERBURY, citizen of the United States, residing at Mamaroneck, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail- Bag Catchers and Deliverers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in mail bag catchers and deliverers, and the object of the invention is to provide a novel device of this character which will handle the mail pouch or sack in such a manner as not to inure the same and will prevent it from be ing dropped and drawn under the wheels of the train.-

The invention further contemplates a mail bag catcher and deliverer which is simple and inexpensive in its construction and can be readily thrown either into an operative or inoperative position as required.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mail bag catcher and deliverer embodylng the invention, a bag being shown as being delivered to a car and also as being received from the car. Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view showing the catcher arm. Fig. 3 is a similar view through the delivering frame. Fig. 4: is an enlarged transverse sectional view through one of the arms of the delivering frame. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the spring for holding the delivering frame in operative position.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a standard which is in the nature of a vertical rod and is designed to be mounted upon one side of the railroad track. Pivotally mounted upon the lower portion of the standard so as to swing in a horizontal plane is a catcher arm 2 the outer end of which is formed with a hook .2. for engagement with the mail sack. Extending across the mouth of this hook is a flexible cord or wire 3 one end of which is connected to an ear 4 at the extremity of the hook while the opposite end is connected to a detent 5 which is pivotally mounted upon the catcher arm at the inner end of the hook. This detent 5 is designed to engage a stop 0 to hold the catcher arm in an operative position. However, as soon as the catcher arm has been brought into engagement with a mail sack the cord 3 which extends across the mouth of the hook is forced inwardly so as to move the detent 5 out of engage ment with the stop 6. The catcher arm 2 is then immediately swung to one side by means of a spring 7 which engages a spring extension 8 at the pivot end of the catcher arm. As soon as the catcher arm has thus been swung to one side the mail sack or pouch is ejected into a suitable receptacle or receiver 9 at one side of the standard. As shown on the drawing it will be observed that the stop (5 is constituted by a bar ap plied to the standard 1, the bar extending rearwardly and forming a support for the spring T. When it is desired to set the catcher arm for receiving mail from a train it is merely swung into an operative position against the action of the spring 7 and spring extension 5; and the detent caused to engage the stop (5. As has been previously described as soon as the mail sack is caught by the catcher arm the detent 5 is released and the catcher arm is swung to one side and the mail sack ejected into the receiver 9.

The mail bag deliverer is mounted upon the standard 1 above the catcher arm and comprises a frame which can be swung either into an operative or an inoperative position. As shown on the drawing this frame is constituted by a sleeve 10 which fits loosely over the standard so to turn thereon and is provided with the spaced horizontal arms 11. Applied to the end portion of each of these arms is a block 12 provided with a spring hook member 12 for engagement with the rings 13 at opposite ends of the 'mail sack 14. As soon as the mail sack has been engaged by the catcher arm upon the car the links 13 are drawn. out of engage ment with the spring hooks 12 and the mail sack thereby released from the deliverer. hen the delivering frame has been turned into an operative position with the arms 11 projecting toward the track the said arms engage an upright bar 15 which constitutes a stop. This bar carries a spring strip 16 which is designed to engage the lower arm 11 for holding the delivering frame in an operative position.

As previously mentioned the standard 1 is to be mounted on one side of thetraok. with the catcher arm 3 upon the lower portion thereof and the delivering frame upon the upper portion. The car Will also be pro vided with both a delivering frame and a catcher arm but these members will be mounted in a reverse position, the catcher arm being placed above the delivering frame. W'ith this arrangement it will be obvious that mail can be both received from the car and delivered thereto at the same time.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a swinging catcher arm, a receptacle, a spring for moving the catcher arm into position for ejecting into the receptacle, a detent for holding the catcher arm in an operative position against the action of the spring, and a cord carried by the catcher arm and having an operative connection with the detent for releasing the same when a mail bag is engaged.

2. In a device of the character described. the combination of a swinging catcher arm provided at its pivot end with a spring extension, a spring cooperating with the spring extension to move the catcher arm into an inoperative position, and means for holding thecatcher arm in an operative position until the mail sack has been engaged.

3. In a device-of the character described, the combination of a catcher arm provided with a hook for engaging the mail hag. means for moving the catcher arm into an inoperative position, a detent for holding the catcher arm in an operative position, and a cord extending across the mouth of the hook and having an operative connection with the detent for releasing the latter when the hook portion of the catcher arm is brought into engagement with a mail sack.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a standard. a swinging t'ranie mounted upon the standard and tormcd with spaced horizontal a rms, a block applied to each of the arms, a hook member carried by each of the blocks for engagement with a mail sack, a stop bar arranged in the path of the arms, and a spring carried by the stop bar for holding the arms in engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof T atiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWVTN VAT ERBURY.

\Vitnesses GERALD Brnivns, Ronnnr F. HmME.

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